Fastening device



PT 23 1953 G. A. TINNERMAN FASTENING DEVICE Original Filed llay 29, 1946 INVENTOR. JJ By A ToRNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 f if FAsrENING DEVICE Georgie A.` Tinnernlan, Cleveland,` Ohio, assigner to Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio original application. May 29, 1946, serial No. 672,947. VDivided and this application October 11, 1951, serial N0..250,828

1 This invention relates in general to bolt farstened installations and deals, more particularly, with improvements in bolt holding devices forattaching standard bolts, screws, rivets, and similar studs in fastening positionin an assembly prior to the application of a cooperating nut device thereto for securing the parts of the assembly.

This application is a division of prior copending application Serial Number 672,947 file dMay 29, lele. f 1

In many assemblies, it is necessary or desirable to use a standard nut Vand bolt fastening means but it is usually a diicult problem, especiallyfin blind locations, for the operator to 'hold the bolt in place as the nut is applied, or otherwise, to maintain the bolt against rotation'during the nnal tightening ofthe nut. therewith, Inl such an assembly in which the rearward sidemoll a part is not conveniently or readily accessible for holding a bolt in fastening position prior to the application of the nut, it hasbeen thexpractice to resort to various forms of cage devices requiring a welding or riveting operation for` attaching the same in providing means for holdingrthe` b olt in fastening position. Such welding or riveting operation involves considerably increased'costs in manufacture which often make the use of this type of bolt holder prohibitive in many, installations requiring 'a cheap and inexpensive fastening means, while they are otherwise objectionable by reason of the inordinate amount of time required in the installation thereof in an assembly. A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved formv of bolt 4l'lolderor retainer which is relatively simple andinexpensive to manufacture and includes in itsconstrlletion a highly practical form of attaching means designed for quick and easy clip or snapvfasten- 2 Claims.v (C l. 1751941.75)

ing application toattach the boltin fastening position in an installation in a minimum of time and eort. y y

A further, more specic object ofthe invention is for the provision of various forms of bolt. holders for conventional or standard boltscomprising providing a positive nonrotatable .attachrnentfof a bolt in an opening in a part in a manner' to prevent turning of the bolt as a n ut is tightened thereon, and to prevent loosening of the' bolt from tightened fastening position incidental tovibration, strain, Vand jarringfeffects in a, completed installation; v

' Furtherobje'cts and advantages, andother` new and useful features in theA construction, 'arrangementland general combination -of partsz of the invention'will be readily apparent tothoseskilled in the art as the following*descriptionjproceeds with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, for purposes of illustration but' not of limitation, Vin which 'like reference j characters` desigl'latef` like parts throughout the samegrand'in which:

,Figure 1 isa perspective view showingan irnproved bolt retainer iniacc'ordance' with the 'invention as assembled with a bolt preparatory to attachment thereofin an installation; l,

' Figure 2is asectional view showing thev bolt [and retainer `of Figure 1 as attached to a panel,

or the likawithan associated partsecured'thereto by a `cooperating nut ina" completed fastening installation; I s y j "f l' Eigure 3 isa sectional 'view offFigure 2 taken along` lineV 3-j-3,A looking inv'thedirectionl of lthe arrQWS; j A Figure i4 is a'sectional,vieu/similar to Figure 2 showing a further form of bolt holder in accordancelv withl thel invention;"A n v Y j Figure''is a perspective'view showing'the general construction of anothi-lrformv of bolt' re- 'li'figu'reeI showsthe' bolt jllcllder ofhligur-e. .5 as

initially appliedto the boltjopeningin apari'witll wiih'ihe retainer in the attac ed jpcition thereof in ,thebolt opening;

Eigul'e 7 is a sectionalfvi'ew showing theretaine'rand. b olt of Figure Spin. locked-relation inthe attached position thereof in th'e boli', open` ing in a supporting part with an associated part secure'dthereto by a'cooperating. nut;..and,l .1 fEigureS is a sectional view ,similar toFigure 'i showing another,v form ofbolt holder rin accordancewith lthe inventiom L n Referringnow, more'- particularly, to the drawings, Figure, 1 showsa bolt holder` l il which isconstructed` from a sheet metal section yof a Ysize and configuration determined by the shape and size Voflthebolt head withgwhichit' is tobef used. "lheiboltv holder may be. readily .designed for luse with 'any type ofboli lieaaami infine present exampleitis shown employed wtha Standard boltjthjavins a ,squarehead2-Telly tbl'sliet metal may be employed folnakingtheboltholder preferablyA that of a spring metal nature such as spring steel or cold rolled steel having spring like characteristics,

The sheet metal section forming the bolt holder i is bent to define a central cap portion li having depending side flanges I2 and inwardly bent flanges lf3 conforming generally to the contour of the bolt head. Preferably, the side flanges l2 are bent to nare slightly outwardly from the adjacent side faces of the bolt head while the flanges I3 extend downwardly in inclined relation to the underside thereof in the normal Auntensionedrela tion of the bolt holder. Luge 'M may be included on the cap portion of the Vbolt holder for engaging the bolt head 2 in cooperation with the side iianges I2. The ends of the flanges I3 areproe vided with lingers I5, or the like', which are dee signed for resilient engagement with opposing edge portions of a panel opening by substantial snap fastening action. `Preferably the extremities of the .fingers I5 are so vformed, as .to denne outwardly bent tongues or hook elements I6, or the like.

The bolt holder, .thus provided, is assembled onto the bolt head 2 and the outwardly flaring side nanges .I2 compressed against the faces of the bolt head to bring the 'lingers I5 toward each other as closely as possible. The bolt shank is then inserted through .the opening in the panel A and in the compressed relation of the side flanges I2 the lingers I5 are so spaced as to pass vinto the openingvor may be flexed as necessary to .pass therethrough. The side anges I2 of the -bolt holder are then released from their come pressed relation and in attempting to assume f their initial outwardly flared relation, force the lingers I5 to spreadapart and thereby irictionally and grippingly engage fthe adjacent edges of the panel opening to retain the bolt in attached position in said opening. In this relation, the hook elements loon the extremities of the fingers seat against the marginalsurfaces adjacent the panel opening to provide a positive attachment of the bolt holder which prevents any reverse axial movement of the bolt toward removal from attached position in the panel opening. At the Isame time, the resilient nature of the fingers I5 in frictional and gripping engagement with the edges of the panel opening, as aforesaid, is such as to preventturning of the bolt as the associated nut N is threaded thereon and rotated to tightened fastening position in securing the panel A to a cooperating part B. The nut N shown is .a self lockingvtype of spring nut, but it is to be under- Stood that the invention fully contemplates the use o'f any other suitable forni of threaded nut, look nut, or Ithe like. Y.

In a, blind fastening installation, for eXInple, or other assembly `wherein it is not possible '01 convenient to apply atool to the bolt head t0- of the panel opening With Such lateral slots 2i iS accomplished at little or no added cost in the same punching l:")peiation'by which the necessary bolt passage 20 would be provided any event. 'The slots 2| define butirlents .against which the edges of the lingers .I Eengage to prevent any relative rotative movement of the nut holder which in turn, positively retains the boit against mimx ing as the nut is threaded thereon and tightened by virtue of the flanges I2 and lugs I4 in engagement with the side faces of the bolt head. The attachment of the bolt holder in a panel yopening having such lateral recesses or slots 2l therefore provides an important advantage in many instances where the nut must 'be `drawn up tight and the bolt head is not conveniently or readily accessible for the use of a tool to prevent turning of the bolt with the nut as the nut is tightened.

Figure 4 shows another form of bolt holder which is similar to that described with reference to 'Figures 1 -3, inclusive, except for the construction of kthe `fingers 25 for retaining the bolt holder in attached position. This form of bolt holder is designed for `ready attachment in a panel opening' 2li provided either with or with-out one or more of the lateral slots 2| shown in Figures 2 and 3. In any event, the lingers 25 are so formed as to denne shoulders 26 adapted for snap fastening engagement with adjacent edges of the panel opening ,2D or adjacent edges of the lateral slots 2 I, Figure 3, as the case may be. Preferably the Vextremities of the ingers are bent inwardly into engagement with the bolt shank to stiien the fingers in operative relation and ythereby increase the holding ability of the shoulders 26 vin snap fastened .engagement with the adjacent edges of the panel opening. u Figures 5-7 inclusive show a further embodiment of the invention in which the bolt holder is provided as shown in Figui-e 5 to comprise a central body portion 3l) and upturned ilanges 3l which are so spaced as to engage opposing faces of the bolthead. A passage 32 for the bolt shank is provided in the body of the bolt holder along with `one or more fingers 35, which are struck from the metal originally in the area of the bolt passage 32 and bent downwardly on either side to denne means for attaching the bolt holder in the panel opening 2B. The ngers 35 preferably are bent into the form of arcuate hooks extending outwardly in opposed relation and having their extremities spaced apart a distance equal .to or slightly .less than the size .of the4 pan-e1 opening 20 to pass therethrough or to be iiete'd as neces,- sary to seat snugly therein assh-o'wn in Figure 6. The space between the fingers S5 is slightly less than the dianeter of the bolt, and accordingly, when the bolt is forced through the passage 3.2

.in the bolt holder, thebolt engages the inner rsurfaces ofthe ngers 35 to spread them outwardly into gripping engagement 'with opposing edge portions of the panel opening with the eitremities of the lingers engaging .the-corners or panel vsur" facesadjacent theretas shown in Figure' 7. The boit is thus forced or ,driven if nessary te its attached positionshown in Figure 7, in whih relation opposing faosof the bolt head are' ,snugly engaged by the iiaiiges` 3| of the bolt holder. Inasniuc'h 4as the bolt'hldr is n'o'nr-otatably secured in the panel opening by the fingers 35, the bolt likewiseis nonrotatably retained in the panel opening by the flanges 3l, while the pronounced frictional engagement of said lingers with the bolt shank.A prevents any reverse axial lmovement or displacement of the `bolt toward removal from-attached position in the panel opening.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the invennen in which the boit holder has the .general formation of that illustrated in Figure 5 coinpring a central body 4D provided with upturned nanges 42 for engagingopposing faces of the boit extremities defining outwardly ai'ed tongues leading to detents or projections 43 adapted for snap fastening engagement with the -top of the bolt head. The body of the bolt holder is provided with a bolt passage along with fingers 45 which are struck from the metal originally in the area of the bolt passage to define means for attaching the bolt holder in the panel opening 29. The fingers 45 are so formed as to deiine cam shoulders lid, or the like, adapted for snap fastening engagement with adjacent edge portionsv of the panel opening 29 or adjacent edges of the lateral slots 2l as and for the purposes described with reference to the embodiments of Figures 1 3, inclusive, and Figure 4. Also, similarly to the embodiment of Figure 4, the extremities of the fingers d5 preferably are bent inwardly into engagement with the bolt shank to stien the same in operative relation and thereby increase the holding qualities of the shoulders 4B in the panel opening.

In this form of the invention, the bolt is assembled with the bolt holder either before the bolt is applied to the panel opening similarly to the embodiment of Figures 1-4 inclusive, or after the bolt holder is first applied to the panel opening as described with reference to the embodiment of Figure 7. Thus, the bolt and bolt holder may be preassembled simply by passing the bolt shank through the passage in the bolt holder and snapping the sides of the bolt head past the detents i3 into engagement with the side flanges e2. Accordingly, the detents 43 engage the top of the bolt head while the extremities of the fingers l5 engage the bolt shank to retain the bolt in assembled relation with the bolt holder. The assembly is then attached in the panel opening by the snap fastening engagement provided by the shoulders 46, aforesaid. Similarly, the bolt holder may first be attached in the panel opening and the bolt then applied to assembled relation therewith, with the side flanges i2 engaging opposing faces of the bolt head, the detents i3 engaging the top of the bolt head and the extremities of the lingers 45 engaging the bolt shank to lock the bolt in the panel opening against rotative as well as reverse axial movement. Securing of the part B to the support A is then easily accomplished entirely from one side of the installation simply by threading the nut N onto the bolt shank without need for holding the bolt against turning as the nut is rotated and tightened. The nut N' represents a conventional, standard threaded nut which may be used, if desired, in any of the other embodiments of the invention; likewise, a spring nut such as shown employed in Figure 2 may be used in lieu of the threaded nut N shown in Figure 8. A divisional application Serial Number 337,737 filed February 19, 1953 is directed to the form of invention shown in Fig. 8.

It will be appreciated that in any form of the invention the side iianges of the holder or retainer, in engaging the periphery of a bolt head, or equivalent rotary clamping member such as a nut member on a threaded stud defining a bolt fastener, serve as a coupling means with the attaching fingers of the retainer to secure the bolt or rotary clamping member in a panel opening against rotative movement as well as axial displacement. Additionally, it will be noted that in each form of the invention the holder or retainer includes a portion serving as a bearing While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art `that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing :from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with allv changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for retaining a bolt in an opening in a part comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to denne an intermediate cap porti-on for overlying the bolt head and side anges adapted for nonrotatable abutting engagement with flat faces on the head of said bolt, inwardly extending portions adjoining said side flanges adapted to t under the head of said bolt, cooperating fingers depending from said inwardly extending portions having inwardly bent extremities engageable with the shank of said bolt to rigidify said iingers in the assembled relation of the holder on the bolt head, and shoulders on said lingers adapted for fastening engagement with marginal edge portions of said opening to retain the bolt in attached position in said opening.

2. Fastening means comprising a combined bolt and bolt holder for attaching -said bolt in an opening in a part, said bolt having an integral threaded shank and head with said bolt head provided with flat side faces in parallel relation to the axis of the bolt shank, said holder being assembled on said bolt head and comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to denne an intermediate cap portion overlying the top of the bolt head and side flanges engaging said flat side faces of the bolt head and merging into inwardly bent flanges engaging the underside of said bolt head, and attaching fingers carried by said inwardly bent flanges extending downwardly from the bolt head along the length of the bolt shank, said fingers having inwardly bent extremities engaging the bolt shank to rigidify said fingers in the assembled relation of the holder on the bolt head, and shoulders on said lingers engageable with the marginal edge of said opening to retain the bolt in attached position in said opening.

GEORGE A. TINNERMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,883 Recker Aug. 27, 1929 2,246,722 Del Camp June 24, 1941 2,306,975 Pender Dec. 29, 1942 2,571,394 Trafton Oct. 16, 1951 

